If you’ve been a long-time DC fan, you’ve probably survived years of criticism, memes, and negativity. But that tide has shifted drastically ever since James Gunn stepped in to reshape the DC Universe. With projects like Superman, Peacemaker, and Creature Commandos, fans finally feel that DC is returning to its roots — honoring its legacy while charting a confident new direction.
That same philosophy seems to be at the core of the upcoming Clayface movie.
During the recent Motor City Comic Con, writer Mike Flanagan shared new insights about the version of Gotham he’s building for the Clayface project. Fans wondered whether the film might resemble Matt Reeves’ grim, grounded Gotham from The Batman, but Flanagan revealed his inspiration came from a completely different place.
He went back to the iconic two-part Batman: The Animated Series storyline “Feat of Clay.”
“When we first started talking about Clayface, I hadn’t seen what Matt was up to. So it went all the way back to ‘Feat of Clay,’ that incredible two-parter with Ron Perlman voicing the character, which was so formative for me as a kid.”
Flanagan also spoke about how much he enjoyed collaborating with James Gunn and Peter Safran. In fact, he admitted that the only downside was not being able to jump into production immediately due to scheduling conflicts.
If there is one animated superhero show nearly everyone recognizes, it’s Batman: The Animated Series. It defined Batman for an entire generation, largely thanks to Kevin Conroy’s legendary voice work and the show’s revolutionary noir-art style.
But here’s the problem:
Many younger fans today have never experienced it.
By building the Clayface movie’s Gotham around this classic series, the DCU is doing something extremely valuable:
1. Preserving DC’s Legacy for New Audiences
Once younger viewers learn that the film draws from Batman: TAS, many will be curious enough to check the original show out. That creates a fresh audience for a series that shaped the modern interpretation of Batman.
2. Tapping Into Pure, Unfiltered Nostalgia
For older fans, this connection hits directly in the childhood feels. Instead of relying on big-budget spectacle or flashy marketing, the movie can attract viewers through the emotional pull of something they grew up with. That kind of nostalgia is powerful — and genuine.
